Batman's appearance is intended to provoke superstitious cowardice among the criminal element of Gotham City — but it's also become a part of our culture. The bat-ears, cowl and dark silhouette are instantly recognizable. And when you think "superhero," Bruce Wayne's cape and cowl are among the most likely images to come …

As part of DC's New 52 relaunch last September, the long-running series Detective Comics rebooted with a newfound focus on Batman's early career. io9 recently caught up with Detective Comics writer/artist Tony Daniels and asked him how the Bat's salad days will go.